Future Punishment And The Bible # 2

Future Punishment And The Bible # 2

Some labor hard to strip this Scripture of its evident meaning and to rob it of its point and power, by declaring that it is only a parable. On the contrary, the Saviour's statements are given as facts. But even though we admit the account to be a parable, what then? A parable teaches either what is or what may be, and in that case these words lose none of their force, but stand out as a bold word-picture of the terrible doom of the wicked.

Over and over Jesus speaks of the wicked being cast into "outer darkness," where "there shall be weeping" and "wailing and gnashing of teeth." Three times in one chapter He speaks of the worm that dieth not and the fire that is not quenched.

Paul says, "Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish," shall come upon the wicked. And John, in the Revelation, says they are in torment." What can all this mean but conscious punishment?

Let a man who never before saw the Bible, read these words for the first time, and he would at once declare that the Bible teaches the conscious suffering of the wicked after death. He might not believe the teaching, but he would never think of denying that such was the teaching of the Bible. The punishment mentioned in the Bible must be felt, must be conscious, otherwise it is not "torment, tribulation and anguish." The "second death," the death of the soul, must be something other than the destruction of its conscious existence.

Jesus has defined for us eternal life as the knowledge of God: This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). If then this blessed knowledge constitutes eternal life, what is the death which sin imposes but just the absence of this knowledge, with consequent wretchedness and misery? To lose God, to sink into outer darkness, to lose all fellowship with pure and loving souls, to be an outcast for ever, this is "the second death," this is "torment and anguish," this is hell, and this is the wages of sin.

The Bible further teaches that the punishment of the wicked after death will be endless.

There are distinguished teachers and preachers who have declared that Bible does not teach the eternity of sin and of punishment. But if we examine for ourselves, we find this teaching as clear as human language can make it. In the Revised Version we read: "Whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin," and eternal sin will surely be followed by eternal woe. While sin lasts misery lasts.

The strongest terms that can be used have been used to teach eternal punishment. When we say a thing will last for ever we have put it strongly, but when we duplicate the phrase and say it will last for ever and for ever, we cannot add to its strength - we have said all that can be said. This is just what the Bible does in speaking of the punishment of the wicked.

The phrase "for ever and ever" is the strongest term by which the idea of eternity is expressed in the Bible. It is the phrase used to express the eternal life and glory of the righteous: "And they shall reign for ever and ever." Paul used these words when he prayed for the continuance of God's glory: "To whom be glory for ever and ever." (Galatians 1:5; Phil. 4:20; Hebrews 17:21). It is also the very phrase used to assert the eternal existence of God Himself - Who liveth for ever and ever (Rev. 4:9, 10; 10:6, 7).

This phrase, which is used to declare the endless life and glory of the righteous and the existence of God Himself, is also used to declare the endless punishment of satan (Rev. 20:10). In verse 15 we are told that the wicked are to share the punishment of the devil himself. And Jesus, in foretelling the sentence of the wicked at the Judgment Day, declares: Then shall He also say to them on the left hand, "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels;" thus showing that the wicked are to share the punishment of the devil, which is "for ever and ever."

The sinner is not alarmed by the thought that death ends all. He will say, "Let us eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die." It is not death he fears, but that which follows death. Nor does he care for punishment after death if he can only believe it will end sometime he will still harden himself in sin and mock God. But preach to him the faithful Word of God, until the awful fact of endless punishment, set over against the endless blessedness of God's approval and favor, pierces his guilty conscience and takes possession of his soul, and he will go mournfully all his days until he finds Jesus the Saviour.

~Samuel Logan Brengle~

(continued with # 3)